The Best Of Simon Reyes (VINYL) | Mint (M) Mint (M)

Simon Reyes – The Best Of Simon Reyes

Label: San Jacinto Records – DRAM 2070

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation

Country: US

Released: 2024

Genre: Rock, Latin, Funk / Soul

Style: Swamp Pop

You know we at Lion Productions love it when labels excavate worthy music which has slipped into darkness and is in danger of being lost for good. Here is one such example. This very special album is comprised of recordings by Simon Reyes, originally released released in the 1960's and early 70's by small indie Texas record labels like Tear Drop and Pharoah Records. 

Simon Reyes had a lot going on. He was charismatic. He had a great voice. His life was full of turmoil, but colorful. He had a short fuse, yet he was also charming and talented. And he wrote (and recorded) many catchy, grooving songs. His friend Freddy Fender covered one (‘Caminito, Caminito’), and so did Roy Head (‘Mama, Mama’). At least eight singles were released featuring Reyes fronting his various bands, The Outerlimits, The Gypsies, and the last band he played with, Simon Reyes and the Bourbon Street Bums. I say “at least”, because there are likely others which could not be located for this excellent compilation. Yes, eight captivating singles, almost every song written by Simon Reyes himself between 1965 and his death a few blocks from his home from a heroin overdose in 1973 (or 1974, reports differ).

Simon Reyes and music were always entwined. As a child, he performed on the Molten Ty Cobb television show: he would paint fake sideburns and pretend to play a guitar without strings and dance like Elvis while singing 'Hound Dog’. Eventually, Reyes dropped out of high school. He had his own group and toured. He spent time in Galveston, TX and New Orleans, LA where he recorded approximately twenty songs, lost and presumed missing. Reyes' first Pharoah 45, released in 1965, was 'My Baby Hurts Me,’ a bluesy pop number with a female backing group and an extended electric piano solo; it is backed by a ballad, 'Mistake Number Three,' on the flip. (The Pharaoh label is famous for some great Texas garage 45s by the Cavaliers, the Headstones, the Playboys of Edinburgh, and Christopher & the Souls). Other singles include a very good version of 'I’m a Hog (For You)' on Rival, and English and Spanish versions of 'Mama, Mama,’ released on the Tear Drop label — included here.

Assembled with love and care by Rich Hopkins of San Jacinto Records, with permission from his friends the Reyes family, who still live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. A terrific example of archival record making. Gatefold cover with photos (Simon with Johnny Cash? yep,  there they are) + text featuring remembrances about the mystery that ultimately is Simon Reyes.

Exclusive distributed LP from SAN JACINTO RECORDS:

Rare recordings by Simon Reyes, originally released in the 1960's and early 70's by small indie Texas record labels like Tear Drop and Pharoah Records

Track Listing: 

Side A:

1. Mistake Number Three

2. Mama Mama (English version)

3. People Laugh At Me 

4. Make Believe 

5. I'm Gonna Love You Anyway 

6. Just By Touching Your Hand 

7. My Baby Hurts Me 

8. Broken Hearted Fool 

9. I'm A Hog For You Baby

Side B:

1. Amor de la Calle

2. Mama Mama (Spanish version)

3. Mientras Yo Pueda 

4. Te Extrano 

5. La Barca

6. La Que Se Fue 

7. El Tejano Enamorado